Washington, D.C., HIV/AIDS Administrator Wants Condoms in Schools, Needle-Exchange Programs

Washington, D.C., needs to be prepared for measures that make condoms available in schools and needle-exchange programs available for injection drug users, if the city is to tackle HIV/AIDS effectively, Marsha Martin, the new director of the city's HIV/AIDS Administration, said on Monday at a panel discussion, the Washington Examiner reports. "We want condoms everywhere. We have already had conversations with the public schools. I want them everywhere" Martin said, adding that the condoms would be provided with information on HIV prevention (Rupert, Washington Examiner, 10/4). Martin was named HIV/AIDS director in August after Department of Health Director Gregg Pane fired former director Lydia Watts amid questions about the agency's handling of federal funds. The HIV/AIDS administration in June was criticized in an audit by the district's inspector general for inadequately overseeing organizations that deliver services to HIV-positive residents. In addition, a report released in August by the DC Appleseed Center found that the city's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been inadequate and poorly coordinated. The report said, among other things, that city officials were not systematically collecting and analyzing data about the epidemic and were not properly coordinating and supervising the organizations that provide services for people living with HIV/AIDS (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/25). Martin said she is working with George Washington University to provide accurate and immediate data and spot trends on HIV/AIDS in the city (Washington Examiner, 10/4).